The Effect of Training Frequency on Explosive Strength in Adolescent Tennis Players During a Six-Week Functional Training Program

Adolescence is a period characterized by rapid growth and development, characterized by intense structural, functional, and neuromuscular changes in the musculoskeletal system. The rapid height growth and proportional changes that occur during this period can negatively impact athletic performance by disrupting muscle strength and flexibility. Deficiencies in lower extremity muscle strength, in particular, can lead to decreased performance and increased injury risk in sports requiring high agility, balance, and explosive power, such as tennis. Functional training programs are holistic exercise approaches that aim to improve neuromuscular control, balance, coordination, and muscle strength by simultaneously training multiple muscle groups. This type of training is particularly important in adolescent athletes because it supports the development of strength, endurance, and explosive power. Training frequency, in turn, plays a decisive role in muscle adaptation and performance enhancement by influencing the balance between loading and recovery. Literature contains limited studies directly examining the effects of functional training frequency on explosive power performance in young athletes. Most existing research has focused on adult or professional athletes, and experimental studies comparing the effects of different training frequencies in adolescent tennis players are insufficient. In this context, the aim of our study was to examine the effects of a six-week functional training program implemented at different training frequencies on lower extremity explosive strength parameters in adolescent tennis athletes.